Van Rysel RCR
Racers who want Van Rysel. EDR if you need stack.
Van Rysel's race road bike — the WorldTour-adjacent Decathlon racer. Low, stiff, and surprisingly close to a Tarmac-class stack/reach if you size carefully.
Racers who want Van Rysel. EDR if you need stack.
Van Rysel's race road bike — the WorldTour-adjacent Decathlon racer. Low, stiff, and surprisingly close to a Tarmac-class stack/reach if you size carefully.
Racers who want Van Rysel. EDR if you need stack.
Van Rysel's race road bike — the WorldTour-adjacent Decathlon racer. Low, stiff, and surprisingly close to a Tarmac-class stack/reach if you size carefully.
Racers who like Cannondale's handling and want the serviceable frame. Synapse is the taller sibling; SuperX is the CX/gravel race cousin.
The fourth-generation EVO keeps the third generation's geometry but goes lighter, slipperier, and back to a threaded BSA bottom bracket. Same fit as the 2020–2022 bike, easier to live with.
Racers and fast club riders who want the modern Tarmac. If you came off an SL7, check that the stack/reach still matches your size.
The current Specialized race bike: lighter than SL7, still aero, and famously 'it just disappears' if the fit is right. Size by stack/reach — the 54/56 split is where a lot of riders hop.
| Measurement |  Van RyselRCR 2027 | Van RyselRCR 2026 |  CannondaleSuperSix EVO 2027 |  SpecializedTarmac SL8 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 543 | 543 | 545+2 | 544+1 |
| Reachmm | 390 | 390 | 387−3 | 384−6 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.0 | 73.0 | 71.2−1.8 | 73.0 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.5 | 73.5 | 74.0+0.5 | 74.0+0.5 |
| Chainstaymm | 408 | 408 | 410+2 | 410+2 |
| Wheelbasemm | 988 | 988 | 1010+22 | 978−10 |
| BB dropmm | 70 | 70 | 72+2 | 72+2 |
| BB heightmm | — | — | — | 268 |
| Standovermm | — | — | — | 768 |
| Part | RCR M | RCR M | SuperSix EVO 54 | Tarmac SL8 54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stem | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm |
| Bar | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm |
| Crank | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm |
# Specialized Tarmac SL9 vs Tarmac SL8: Which is better in 2026? ## The claims Let’s start with the marketing, because this is a Specialized launch and the marketing department…
The ink on the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 launch is barely dry, and you can already grab yourself a deal on select Tarmac SL8 models with Balfe's and ...
